Weapons' control amendments miss target

J Fenech

Dec 29th 2009, 18:43

This, I address to the general public to judge.. what the gun owners / collectors have always argued is that, we do not mind more regulations or more strict ways of obtaining a target gun, hunting gun or a collectors' piece from a by gone era, we are all more than willing to adhere to all rules / laws put before us. This because we are firm believers that owning guns legally, does not necessarrily increase or decrease crime per se but, what is to be kept in sight is the fact that the authorities have a long list readily available of who owns a gun, at hand. The number of illegal weapons on the streets will never be known, so at least let's have a greater percentage of the public legally owning guns. In itself, this is a way of 'controlling' what is in our houshold and who has what!!

John Matthews

Dec 29th 2009, 15:55

@Stephen A Petroni
Yes you are on the right track. It's a great pity that the "makers" of the Maltese 2005 Arms Act were not in the UK when we lost the right to possess certain firearms. The "big" UK government could certainly learn a thing or two from the "little" Maltese government. No disrespect intended.

john Matthews

Dec 29th 2009, 15:44

@ C Vassallo
Please stick to the subject. The subject in case you have forgotten is about Guns(firearms). Usually people that diversify from the subject are the ones on the losing end of the debate and bring in other arguments such as drugs, knives etc just to draw the readers minds away form THE SUBJECT.

Michael Spiteri

Dec 29th 2009, 15:33

Even this article's picture is offensive to gun owners like myself. Did the reporter know that it goes against all safety procedures and etiquette to point a gun, even if it is unloaded, be it a camera or any other thing? It is the first lesson thought and practiced by any responsible gun owner to never aim the weapon unless instructed to by the range officer and always down-range towards the target. As an appeal I wish to draw the attention of this news paper that general public ignorance is rife out there on this subject. Stop insulting law abiding gun collectors and shooters alike with double meaning articles like these. Has any gun owner (license A & B) ever been charged with any gun related crime in Malta? The answer is simple...never. And there are many thousands of us, with many guns. All we wish for is to continue punching holes in paper targets in peace. I rest my case.

J Cachia

Dec 29th 2009, 14:35

@C Vassallo ..

"...But your "logical arguments" are basically saying that if we legalise drugs we should get less deaths. .. " . Legalising Drugs has no Positive side to it. Guns on the other hand can be used for collection or sport ( both of which I personally do ), both harmless in principle.

Clive Brockdorff

Dec 29th 2009, 14:16

It is interesting to see that Mr. Vassallo accuses Mr. Green of "skimming" through comments when he totally ignored my statement that the argument is not necessarily that more guns = less crime (although various studies do point in that direction). The main point is that less legally registered guns DOES NOT equal less crime. Therefore to insist upon criminalising a large segment of the population based on a fallacious argument is illiberal and not worthy of any civilised government. Luckily enough, it seems that with regards to Malta, reason has prevailed across the political spectrum.

Stephen A. Petroni

Dec 29th 2009, 13:19

@ John Matthews, James Green. Hoplophobes will continue to deny facts that stare them in the eye. Thankfully the majority of people out there are reasonable and ready to accept a good argument when they hear one. The EU recognises the legitimate activities of gun collectors, sports shooters and hunters and our national law follows this principle. The irrational rantings of those who would ban anything that they dislike will persist. However reason and common sense will prevent them from overruling the rights of legitimate interest groups such as ours.

C.Vassallo

Dec 29th 2009, 11:04

Mr. Green
You are not reading details but SKIMMING through words.I will stop with this last contribution:

Facts you mention

1- What’s your point? I am only challenging your supposition that more guns around = less crime.
2-That inference and connection is totally your opinion and of some people – there is not study proving what you are saying.
3-Hence what I said that things need to be studied properly taking into consideration many factors – including but not limited to, cultural factors
4-you are quoting 2009 figures – you need more data to prove anything
5-not necessarily related to gun lax laws, it is always the case where e.g. one state has 1 rape every hour and the other every week
6-comparisons are odious – especially when it does no affect you directly like gun ownership does.

In the meantime – inform yourself on how research is conducted professionally before inferring anything. A hop at any local or otherwise university would help you understand basic research, but even then you have to be cautious. I will keep on challenging your presumed fact that more guns owenership = less crime before proper research taking into consideration ALL factors, proves otherwise.

James Green

Dec 29th 2009, 10:47

@ C Vassallo
You seem to, in the face of overwhelming facts and evidence, persist in your ostrich-like stance.
Occasionally the shortest distance between two points is NOT a straight line, and what at first seems fairly straight forward produces totally unexpected results.
Fact: Homicides committed in Malta with legally owned guns vs unregistered ones pale into insignificance. (Maybe Mr Attard would care to elucidate us further on this matter.)
Fact: violent gun/knife crime in the UK has spiralled out of control post Dunblane gun prohibition.
Fact: Switzerland has one of the lowest violent crime rates despite an assault rifle in nearly every home.
Fact: Violent crime rates in the US are falling dramatically despite increasing gun ownership.
Fact: Comparing two ‘States’, District of Columbia and Vermont, both with a substantially similar population, the former with a near total gun ban, the latter with the most lax firearms laws in the USA, DC has an approximate violent crime rate FIVE times that of Vermont.
Fact: comparing illegal drugs to guns is tantamount to comparing lettuce to hydrogen sulphide.
In the meantime I suggest you invest in this book:
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html

C.Vassallo

Dec 29th 2009, 00:55

Matthews/Green/Sammut

You are jumping onto articles written here and there that prove nothing. The article (FBI) quoted by Green - only states that more guns does not necessarily = more crime. What I was trying to say before is that less guns could mean less crime (ESPECIALLY WARM BLOODED ONES) which is totally the opposite of what you are saying.

But your "logical arguments" are basically saying that if we legalise drugs we should get less deaths. Could be, but not necessarily so. Overdose anyone?

Do try to interpret what you read on the internet and do not take things at face value. also take into consideration different factors, such as law (capital punishment as an example but dont take this literally as I am sure some will, but just as an example), location, enforcement etc...

How many times have you read on this paper that a warm blooded crime was done by the person getting his shotgun and firing at someone he had a disagreement with?

As i stated before, but you dont seem to have read - the figures cannot be taken literally and just skimming the surface.

Putting more guns in the hand does not=less crime.

John Matthews

Dec 28th 2009, 23:16

Thankyou James Green for bringing to light your link to the Swiss Army etc. To my knowledge, the Swiss Government does not allow export of Swiss made guns, except the .22 Hammerli pistol. I actually own a 9mm Sig Saur(held in Belgium) the Sig is a Swiss designed firearm but made under license in Germany (Saur). Having spent some time in Switzerland, the article you refer to is extremely accurate.

John Matthews

Dec 28th 2009, 22:16

To all readers
I did not wish to make the point that in an English "speaking" newspaper Maltese should not be spoken, however, Sylvana Zarb Darmanin has brought this observation to light. Her manners are impeccable and more to the point, her comments are factual and accurate. It's a great pity that I do not speak Maltese as possibly there would/will be other comments that I could refer/reply to.

Stephen A. Petroni

Dec 28th 2009, 21:40

@ John Matthews - thank you for your kind comments. I have been researching the subject for over twenty years. I have heard the most diverse viewpoints and still continue to learn from regular local and international contact with enthusiasts, politicians, police and of course people who have an aversion to guns. Barring hoplophobics who get hysterical at the mere mention of the word 'gun' for whom there is no cure, I always managed to find common ground with reasonable persons who are ready to accept valid arguments. During the recent negotiations with the EU Arms Directive amendments, I had the occasion to 'cross swords' (pun intended) with the MEP (German Greens) who was nominated to draft the amendments. The lady started off with a long list of bizarre proposals. However being a person with a scientific rather than an emotional disposition, when faced with substantiated arguments she eventually fine-tuned the proposals to recognise and respect the legitimate activities of collectors, sports shooters and hunters. The amendments were approved by the EU Parliament for transposition into national laws by February 2010. Our Arms Act of 2005 already conforms in most respects. We are on the right track after all.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Dec 28th 2009, 20:48

A Farrugia, if you ever read my past online comments you will realise that what you wrote is, as usual, non-factual. I am very patriotic and have absolutely no problem in writing in Maltese. However, when commenting on a English newspaper which is meant to be read by foreigners as well, one is expected to comment in English! You invariably opt to be insultive and disrespectful in my regard. Well, that shows that my comments bother you and this is my pleasure! Ha, Ha, the ECJ ruling is indeed infuriating you!!!

r sammut

Dec 28th 2009, 20:20

@ C Vassallo May I point out that you yourself failed to include references to substantiate your claim! Thanks to commentators, John Matthews and James Green came up with the ware. Perhaps the need to substantiate my argument is written in the main article; of the estimated weapons 100,000, only about 82,000 are registered. The remaining 18,000 are kept in unknown whereabouts! The police force will be all ears for any suggestion of methods to get hold of such? And the crux of the matter remains; most committed crimes were carried out with unregistered weapons.

James Green

Dec 28th 2009, 18:09

@ C Vassallo You might be interested to check out the following: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2009/1223/More-guns-equal-more-crime-Not-in-2009-FBI-crime-report-shows. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1566715.stm http://gunowners.org/sk0703.htm http://newsbusters.org/node/12267

John Matthews

Dec 28th 2009, 16:26

@ C.Vassallo
you certainly know nothing at all about what has taken place and what is taking place in the UK. Armed crime has DEFINITELY increased in the UK since the abolision of CERTAIN firearms. I suggest you read the CULLEN REPORT on the tragedy of Dunblane before you utter such rubbish. I also suggest that you pay attention to the comments made by Steven Petroni (in my opinion, a man who knows what he is talking about). Gun crime in the UK is recorded as a gun crime even if the firearm is a replica or even a banana in a bag. It is the INTENTION with which the crime is carried out. Do I know what I am talking about? YES, before retirement I worked for Her Majesty's Courts Service AND am a target shooter since the age of 11 years' ie 55 years ago and hope to continue until otherwise incapable. Also I hold reloading seminars for the police and other interested parties in the UK. Further to that, I am the Bombardier for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (carrying out Ceremonial duties at Windsor Castle). Can I be trusted? what do you think?

Steve Farrugia

Dec 28th 2009, 13:59

I find it extremely difficult to understand how certain people do whatever it takes in order to get the public attention, even if they are saying nonsense! Do you realize that there are honest, genuine persons who love to collect or practice target shooting, like any other sports in the world.

You can’t ban cars because there are people who drive carelessly and cause accidents! Or you can’t ban baseball sports because someone gets beaten to death with a bat!

Please stop blaming responsible gun owners. Reason things out first!

Steve Farrugia

A.Farrugia

Dec 28th 2009, 13:27

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Issa isbah - Qed nikteb bil-Malti, skond int, minhabba li nibza li naqa ghac-cajt quddiem il-barrani.

This is gross indeed, you claim I write in Maltese (last I checked I lived in Malta, but anyway) to avoid showing that I am a fool. With this latest thesis of yours, commensurate with your arguments based on the premise of a civilised society (again not responding anything as regards my questions, gun hunting and blasting everything and polluting seems to be civil for you - go figure that, but taking pot is not), you are just showing how inarticulate you are when coming up with such hogwash.

Jekk ghandek problema bil-lingua Maltija - dik hija opinjoni tieghek personali. Sa fejn naf jien ma nohrogx ta' iblah jekk nikteb b'ilsien twelidi.

If you have any problem with the Maltese mother language, then it is your own opinion, last I checked, the Maltese did not make a fool of themselves by writing in Maltese.

J Cachia

Dec 28th 2009, 12:56

I am still waiting for valid answers to my questions ! Thankyou !

J Cachia

Dec 28th 2009, 12:48

More questions ? What makes the anti-gun lobbyists think that restricting legal firearms will prevent criminals from getting hold of illegal ones ( which has always been possible since the existence of firearms themselves ) ? How easy do you think it is that a legal firearm ( once registered,always registered ) ends up as being illegal ? Firearms in Malta cannot be used for self-defence and personally I agree with that, but , what do you think will criminals do when they know that there are no firearms in households ??? Guess , MORE CRIME ! Don't believe me ? look at everyday's Britain's News ( very restricted gun ownership in Britain ). Need more be said ?

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Dec 28th 2009, 12:43

A Farrugia, can't you realise that you are being a joker?! Your comments are immature and disrespectful. You have conveniently opted to write in Maltese to avoid making a fool of yourself in front of foreigners! You just cannot do the things you suggested because you are living in a civilised society where laws have to be respected. Actually, this is where the Spring Hunting Season comes in. Contrary to the ban you anti's suggest, the Maltese hunters may, WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE LAW, enjoy their Spring Hunting Season besides their Autumn Hunting Season, as the Maltese Government has been supplied with the necessary tools to apply a derogation, by none other than the ECJ. This, I know, infuriates you, hence your banal comments and insults in my regard!

J cachia

Dec 28th 2009, 12:37

I would like to ask only one thing to all those ranting in favour of gun control ... Where were your posts when an 18 year old killed 2 people with a car ??

A.Farrugia

Dec 28th 2009, 11:47

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Mela ha nara fhimtekx sewwa. Jekk niktebb favur il-kacca, tghidli prosit, you hit the nail on the head. Ghax nghogbuk.

Jekk ma naqbilx ma l-argument tieghek tghidli li qed inkun ciniku, li ma npogghiex argumenti fattwali, etc.. Says alot about you insomma. Lanqas int biss kapaci tirraguna. Tfakkarni fi Stalin ha nghidlek. Jew li jghid hu jew barra, x'affarjiet dawn! Taf tisthi??

Jekk ma kontx kapaci titfa argument kontra dak li ghedt jien fuq id-droga etc... ghid li ma kontx kapaci u spicca (mhux ghax ghanna bzonn konferma).

Nerga ntennni...
Ghaliex ma nistax nihu kokaina meta is-sigaretti joqtlu ukoll?
Ghaliex ma nistax ninporta bomba u nitbellah fil-kampanja biha, sakemm ma hemm hadd madwari
Ghalhiex ma nistax nixtri tank tal-gwerra? Arma tal-kacca mhux xorta toqtol?


Xorta ghadni ma fhimtx kif dahlet il-kacca fir-rebbiegha fl-argument.

Clive Brockdorff

Dec 28th 2009, 11:35

The argument being made, is not that violent crime will necessarily increase after a crackdown on legal owners (although this has happened) - but simply that it will not decrease. This has been shown time and again in various countries. Therefore, the criminalisation for no good cause of a large segment of the population is utterly unethical and smacks of methods used by authoritarian governments.

J Oatmon

Dec 28th 2009, 10:19

It is obvious that many criminals like to use a shotgun, to carry out their crimes, just the same as the hunters want to use a shotgun to shoot birds.
With minimal checks for decades, we are in a situation where no one knows who has what guns, or where these guns are. There should be a registration amnesty where all guns are properly registered against their serial numbers; and then the owners/users/keepers of all unregistered guns (who are detected) should get a mandatory very heavy fine (say 3,000 euros) for illegal possesion of an unlicensed firearm.

Any illegal firearm, or one without a traceable serial number, should be chopped up - and this means the police have to enforce the laws (something which is not being done, in many areas at present).

Joe caruana

Dec 28th 2009, 09:21

If owning a gun makes one a killer, does this mean that all women are prostitutes? They have all the attributes (weapons).

C.Vassallo

Dec 28th 2009, 00:55

@R.Sammut

I would have thought you would release your sources (reference material) or whatever, to prove what you are stating. So that one could verify the professionalism on how the study was conducted and in what manner data was collected.

In the absence of such evidence, your sources word is against anyone's, therefore you as well, can think what you like.

It simply goes against logic - Crack down on legal firearms and gun related crime goes up - what inference is that!!! :( buq (its like saying the previous owners are getting back at the state by doing illegal stuff)

If anything one would have thought, that by the laws of chance on its own, crime must go down with less guns at hand- so there clearly is some missing link. One of the clues is that you probably never gather data on crime and mix registered firearms with unregistered ones.

You are clearly (or whoever gave you such reports) skimming the surface of the subject and missing the forest for the woods.

censu attard

Dec 27th 2009, 23:18

So this article says it all "Mr Attard said gun violence was increasing. Since 2000, 37 people have been killed by firearms - the weapon of choice in the majority of shootings is shotguns. In most cases, the weapons were not registered." 37 people killed since 2000 in most cases, the weapon was not registered. The criminal always use an unregistered gun,or car . How many people were killed or stabbed with knives since 2000? How many people were killed by cars or trucks since 2000? Which by the way are very very easy to buy,just go to your local hardware store or from the monti and one could buy any type of knife, go to your local car-dealer and buy any type of car you like on hire-purchase,they also kill.

Anton Portelli

Dec 27th 2009, 23:15

Anton Portelli (Continued)
I fully agree with the arguments of Clive Brockdoff and Steve Petroni, registered gun owners would never think of using guns for harming anyone. Registered gun owners keep guns safely away from others and always go through routine safety checks when handling their guns - this is why there are less accidents with guns than with CARS.

Mr Petroni questions the media's agenda - yes what is the media's agenda. Why do people who are not informed on certain things want to dictate what should be done? Why is the lack of tolerace? Why is everyone put in the same basket?

Anton Portelli

Dec 27th 2009, 23:08

First of all trying to relate the number of registered guns and the number of registered hunters does not make any sense because as already said a hunter can have more than one gun. This makes sense since different guns can be used in different hunting situations. The same like other sportsmen have different kits eg. tennis rackets in case of tennis, and football boots for footballers. Besides there are the target shooters who are on the increase and will increase more with the licensing of new ranges.

I would like to ask D. Briffa and C. Cassar how can the government control the unregistered guns - legally owned guns are the only once the government can ban or collect. In the case of England where a shooter has to go over to the continent to practice for the olympic games because of the strict gun regulations, do we see any decrease in Crime - just have a look at the News and you get the answer.

Anton Portelli

Dec 27th 2009, 23:08

First of all trying to relate the number of registered guns and the number of registered hunters does not make any sense because as already said a hunter can have more than one gun. This makes sense since different guns can be used in different hunting situations. The same like other sportsmen have different kits eg. tennis rackets in case of tennis, and football boots for footballers. Besides there are the target shooters who are on the increase and will increase more with the licensing of new ranges.

I would like to ask D. Briffa and C. Cassar how can the government control the unregistered guns - legally owned guns are the only once the government can ban or collect. In the case of England where a shooter has to go over to the continent to practice for the olympic games because of the strict gun regulations, do we see any decrease in Crime - just have a look at the News and you get the answer.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Dec 27th 2009, 21:09

A Farrugia, being cynical gets you nowhere. Are you unable to present factual arguments?!

C Cassar, a look at your comments will expose who the uneducated and humiliating individuals are. I assure you that the many law-abiding hunters are well-educated to the extent that they will shame the likes of you!

Mr Johnny Xerri, you hit the nail on the head! A perfect description of the lady/gentleman who is trying to tarnish the hunters' image.

r sammut

Dec 27th 2009, 20:30

C Vassallo You may think what you like, but it’s a fact that armed crime is rearing its ugly head ever since, in England, the licensed small arms were collected! It is ever so easy to apply draconian laws on law abiding citizens, the licensed gun owners. This will not bother criminals the least! Quite the opposite as criminals will be having a field day by the greater sense of security offered in their way of trade!

Anthony Formosa

Dec 27th 2009, 19:44

It seems that there is a lack of logic, and someone is trying to find every excuse to make things difficult to us or another tariff invention. For instance like many other hunters I own five shotguns, some they own more and some they own less, therefore having 12,000 registered hunters doesn't mean that there should be 12,000 shotguns. It is not true that shotguns are easy to get by just filling a form, the applicant is called for an interview at his district police station before the license is issued. However can someone enlighten me how unregistered weapons are going to be controlled? @ C.Cassar, A gun (Weapon) like many other things can be used with good intentions or bad intentions. It can be used for sports, self defense, or less likely to kill someone. With the same reasoning, all countries in the world including Malta are uneducated because they have modern weapons, and even worse nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Army personnel, and Police should be disarmed.

Stephen A. Petroni

Dec 27th 2009, 19:14

@ C.Vassallo - If you doubt what I have stated regarding the increase in UK armed crime following the useless and costly crusade against legal gun owners please take some time to carry out some research into the matter. I would also like to thank you for agreeing with me that criminals do not care to use registered or traceable firearms (stolen licensed firearms are traceable incidentally) - a Government that targets law-abiding owners with the excuse of controling crime is admitting its own failure to guarantee its own citizens' safety and peace of mind. It is the first step in a vicious cirlcle in which criminality gains the upper hand. Your final point re drug abuse is totally irrelevant to the subject.

Johnny Xerri

Dec 27th 2009, 18:16

And there goes C Cassar again with the educated and elite society. Are you trying to make Malta the first modern country which bans guns? Can you please respond my question which I have been asking for a long time, and please name a country in which gun ownership is illegal? Good luck. For me an educated being is one who reasons, tolerates and can dialogue. Surely a person who dictates is a medieval uncivilized person in my books. What logic is there is banning legal use of guns? Are you even aware that most gun crime is committed with unregistered guns? Do you really think that government can collect unregistered guns?? If anything government would only be capable of collecting registered guns. This in any case is illegal since government is not empowered to confiscate legally registered guns unless a crime has been committed with them.

Jcachia

Dec 27th 2009, 17:26

To C.Cassar . You really have no idea what you are talking about. No guns = No crime ???? Do you think criminals apply for a police licence to own and shoot people ? Does it have to be a gun ? Do we ban cars too ???

C.Vassallo

Dec 27th 2009, 16:57

@Stephen A Petroni

Your conclusion that when UK waged a war on law-abiding citizens and their their guns the only result has been an explosion in armed crime with unregistered arms is probably wrong.

I cant believe you believe in this - even if reported as so by some UK organisation. Crimes with unregistered arms will be there irrispective. Only dumbskulls will go make an armed robbery and kill someone with a gun they have registered in their own name. I dont deny it happens, but the guys should get an award for being idiots.

Point is - If i'm going to make a robbery or something, I first steal a gun from a hunter than I go do my thing or else I just buy a shotgun or whatever from the black market.

Do you believe then, that should the police not make a fuss on drugs, drug related deaths will go down?

johnny Xerri

Dec 27th 2009, 16:03

@ Christian Sciberras,

By making legal guns that are used for sports legal and by increasing the dterent against the use of unregisted guns. If a person is allowed to have a gun, but is fined heavily an inprisoned for owning an unregistered gun, the later will be less popular.

@ D Briffa, how funny ban all guns, how about clay pigeon shooters its the only sport that brings honour to Malta. A sport which is practiced by persons as young as 10 year olds in most EU countries according to you would have to be banned.

@ C Cassar,

Guns = Death, really??
Are you aware of any country which has banned gun usage for sporting purposes??
Try explaining that to the registered gun owners in the rest of the world. Ban their guns and then ban Maltese guns. Goodluck.

Stephenn A. Petroni

Dec 27th 2009, 15:48

@ D.Briffa... what convoluted logic! Once you are at you may also wish to ban cars that take such a deadly toll on our roads. Or any other object that a sick mind would use as a weapon. It's every sensible man's duty to make sure such 'enlightened' ideas remain where they belong.

Stephenn A. Petroni

Dec 27th 2009, 15:36

@ C.Cassar - sure, tell that to the British :) Ever since the UK government launched a war against law-abiding citizens and their their guns the only result has been an explosion in armed crime with unregistered arms. The situation is beyond Police control as criminals now have a free run. This is to expected when simplistic blanket solutions proposed by well-meaning but totally uniformed people like you and fanned on by the sensationalist media are then implemented as law by spineless politicians who want to show that they are doing something but in fact never tackle the source of the problem.

Clive Brockdorff

Dec 27th 2009, 15:29

With all due respct, the statement "guns = death" is not logical. I am a target shooter and have never considered using one of my guns - which to me are simply tools used in a sport - to harm anyone. For that matter, I have never physically harmed anyone in my life. My fellow target shooters take their sport very seriously and are all law-abiding, responsible individuals, many holding down jobs of great responsability in our country.

The problem is not with law-abiding gun owners who register their firearms, but with the unregistered, untraceable firearms in the hands of criminals. No amount of illiberal, draconian restrictions on law-abiding citizens can fix that. Also, the last time I checked, I was living in a liberal democracy where people are not branded as criminals simply because of their posessions!

C Cassar

Dec 27th 2009, 15:15

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin: Once again you're showing your lack of thought before you enter a debate. Cars & kitchen knives have a use that primarily positive to soceity, they were never designed to kill or hurt anything. Only in the hands of the uneducated few are they dangerous. Guns have a primary use of killing and that is their sole design phliosophy. If you can't understand that very simple concept then you're consigning yourself to the scrap heap of old Malta which is rapidly being replaced by an educated and more civilsed populace as the years go by. You can't stop that progress and every trime you make a weak attempt to do so, you simply isolate those like yourself under a spotlight of humiliation.

A.Farrugia

Dec 27th 2009, 15:12

Jien naqbel ma Sylvana Zarb Darmanin.

kollox joqtol - nehhu l-ligijiet please!

Jien ghandi dritt nixtri tank tal-gwerra - wara kollox sikkina toqtol ukol
Jien ghandi dritt ninporta l-cocaine u LSD etc.. ghax wara kollox is-sigaretti joqtlu ukoll

Fil-fatt come to think of it, suppost ma hemm ebda ligi fuq xejn ghax kollox ghandu alternattiv iehor, le ?

Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin int intelligenti u haqqek gieh ir-republika - nisuspetta li l-argument li gibt int, hadd ma gieh f'rasu.

Tlaqt nixtri bomba ghax wara kollox ic-cinlindru tal-gas jista joqtol ukoll jekk taghmillu sulfarina ma gembu.

L-unika kurzita hija - il-kacca fir-rebbiegha, kif dahal fl-argument?

John Matthews

Dec 27th 2009, 15:07

@ C Cassar

Think about the "Snowdrop Campaign" in the UK. Bonafide shooters lost thei right to possess certain firearms. Has gun crime decreased? NO it has increased. Illegal firearms are hard to detect, therefore, is it not bettter to have firearms licensed and the applicants undergo a thorough police check? A lot of illegal firearms have come into the UK from Eastern Bloc countries which have now been "disbanded". In my opinion, anyone that uses a firearm in a crime OR possesses an illegal firearm should be sentenced to the maximum penalty that the courts are allowed to award. Guns do not kill people, people kill people with whatever comes to hand. The government, the police or anyone else will never erradicate gun crime. Mark my words C Cassar. Further to that, log on to Cybershooters website.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Dec 27th 2009, 13:50

C Cassar, while at it, we might decide to ban kitchen knives, cars, etc. Certain individuals enjoy living in dreamland! Far from being banned, shotguns will soon be utilised also in Springtime, to the disappointment of the abolitionist few!

C Cassar

Dec 27th 2009, 13:14

quite simple. No guns around and no one will get shot - that's guaranteed. However, as usual those trying to justify owning objects who's sole aim is to cause death come crawling out of their holes. Guns=death, end of.

D.Briffa

Dec 27th 2009, 13:00

While I understand what some are saying - the point is that while people can use knives to kill - the more weaponery at disposal the greater the chances. The recent parcel bomb - do we ban bombs? Why shouldn't I be allowed to posses bombs? I will not use bombs to hurt anyone - just to fool around with them in the fields.
Why should I not own an armed autmatic machine gun? Or a bazuka? I could still kill someone with a knife - so I should be allowed to import a hand granade.

Do you see that the more arsenal at your disposal the greater the chances to use such arsenal once you've lost it (your temper)? And each weapon has greater consequences. A bomb will kill many, a shotgun will get you (and people around) at larger ranges, a knife will kill you if used in certain areas of the body and has a certain blade length etc.. etc...

Would super powers destroy the world in an instant if they did not have large powerful balistic missles (atom bombs etc...) ? Well yes but not in an instant.
I would ban ALL guns from Malta.

Christian Sciberras

Dec 27th 2009, 12:59

@Johnny Xerri

By definition, an "unregistered gun" cannot be traced/found, so how do you suppose they find/eliminate them? Getting the police to check each corner on this island?

Instead, they're aiming at making unregistered guns more infrequent by making it harder to own an unregistered gun. So, if they can't eliminate existing guns, they can at least limit from future unregistered guns.

That said, I've always been interested in owning a light firearm, but I agree that firearms shouldn't be available as a household item, which at this point in time, they are.

Johnny Xerri

Dec 27th 2009, 12:30

Dear Mr Eddie Attard,

I would have believed that a supposedly educated and knowledgeable person of your integrity could separate issues and speak factually.

If one takes the number of fatalities and injuries (even unintended) occurring from cars, knives, sharp objects, etc these are higher then shotgun crime. Come on how many registered shotguns have been used for crimes???

Moreover, how many registered drivers are on the Island and how many registered cars are there??

So according to your reasoning, I cannot own a spare gun??

Furthermore, just so that you know, however, I doubt that you are unaware, hunters are not all subscribed to FKNK, and some are members of other hunting organizations. FKNK just happens to have the largest chunk.

For me this is pure restriction and hardship on hunters, considering that 'the weapon of choice in the majority of shootings is shotguns. In most cases, the weapons were not registered. How will restricting lawful use eliminate unregistered shotguns???
It’s always very easy to appear to tackle the situation by restricting hunting shotguns like you insinuated, rather than tackling the real problem by eliminating the unregistered guns

Stephen A. Petroni

Dec 27th 2009, 12:03

And last but not least crime has to be quoted in order to ring public and administrative alarm bells - even though crime and legal gun ownership simply do not mix. I respect Mr. Eddie Attard's contributions in matters of Police and criminal history. However he is way off the mark when he attempts to link crime to gun ownership. He is contradicted by the same statistics that he and other sources quote. A detached study of gun ownership figures and crime statistics would reveal that by and large Maltese gun owners are responsible law-abiding citizens. They are not to be held accountable for crime committed by a very few who would resort to any object for a weapon as long as it suits their aim.

Our agenda is the pursuit of a safer environment in which responsible enthusiasts may practice their sports and hobby without hindrance. But what is the media's agenda?

Stephen A. Petroni
President, Association of Maltese Arms Collectors & Shooters (AMACS) www.amacs-malta.org

Stephen A. Petroni

Dec 27th 2009, 12:02

The Sunday Times takes three distinct subjects and stirs them into an alarmist piece of hoplophobia.

It first questions why the Home Affairs Ministry and the Weapons Board have not yet delivered on their promise to introduce amendments in 2009. In this the paper has my support since these amendments are well overdue. Many a genuine enthusiast is looking forward to improvements aimed at curbing useless red tape that are hindering the application of the Act's intended spirit.The Board has drawn up a list of positive proposals but these have not yet been finalised and presented to the Minister. However the Board has also dealt with innumerable issues, the most important of which is the licensing of the first private target shooting ranges.

Obviously the media could not mention gun regulations without bringing in a pet topic into the fray. No opportunity is lost to deliver a broadside to hunting and its considerable following - even if the Arms Act and LN 177 (and the proposed changes for that matter) do not even deal with the subject. The media continues to muddle up gun collecting & sports shooting with hunting issues.

David Borg Cardona

Dec 27th 2009, 11:55

So here we have it, now any crime committed with a shotgun will automatically and without reasoning and doubt put all the hunters in bad light...

And no Sur Eddie Attard, it is NOT guns who kill ,but the people who use them specifically for that purpose. In your typical biased fashion you are the first to point at hunting shotguns and clearly not making any reference to any other gun like pistols, rifles etc. For all it matters, kitchen knives, penknives, baseball bats and a million other commonly found objects can be used as lethal weapons. Even your wife's own hair dryer if it comes to that !!!

Your writings are meant to harm legitimate gun owners and the least I expect of a supposedly respected police historian is to clarify your position.

Chris Agius

Dec 27th 2009, 11:46

What hogwash! Mr. Attard knows perfectly well that when tempers flare, one can kill with a kitchen knife or a screwdriver as easily as with a shotgun! He even then admitted, that most crimes were committed by unregistered weapons!
This article is just misinformation and anti-gun ownership.One cannot put registered and unregistered weapons in one basket. The former are legally owned weapons while the latter are cause for concern and are two totally different issues.
Shotguns are not just purchased to kill birds! In fact there is a growing number of shooters who buy shotguns for target shooting.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Dec 27th 2009, 11:25

"People are using the excuse of hunting to get shotguns" and "In most cases, the weapons were not registered." Can someone please enlighten me as to the reasoning behind these two quotes? Hunting shotguns are registered.

"When the hunting federation trumpets figures related to its membership, it says its members hit the 12,000 mark. So even if figures are not inflated, there are still shotguns in residences that have not been purchased to kill birds." Again, what is the sense behind this?! Do tennis players own one racket only? Do birdwatchers own one binocular only? Do footballers have one football only? etc., etc.

I believe that this article is a result of drink-writing (as opposed to drink-driving). It is the festive season after all!!